Current design approaches for two tier geosynthetic reinforced modular block wall: A comparative study

This paper presents the results of a comparative study on the design approaches for geosynthetic reinforced modular block walls in a tiered configuration. Stability calculations were made on a number of field wall designs using the currently available design approaches and the discrepancies in the results were identified. Also conducted was a series of finite element analysis using a calibrated finite element model on design cases having various offset distances, aiming at identifying qualitative and quantitative discrepancies between the results from the limit equilibrium-based calculation models and the finite element model. The results indicated among other things that the current design approaches yield significantly different results in terms of reinforcement loads, and that the calculation models adopted in the current design approaches tend to yield significantly larger reinforcement loads in bottom layers in lower tier when compared to those computed by the finite element model. Practical implications of the findings obtained from this study are highlighted. Copyright ASCE 2006.